Bomb



. Oct. 7, 1947.

L. C. SONNENSCHEIN BOMB Filed Jan. 24, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 iIIl fnto" rZbmzenwz'n a a Attorneys Oct. 7, 1947- L. c. SONNENSCHEIN BOMB Filed Jan. 24, 1945' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Patented Oct. 7, 1947 UNl'l'ED STATES PATENT orncs 2,428,744 BOMB Louis Carl Sonnenschein, Milwaukee, Ailplicatiml January 24,1945, Serial No. 574,292

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a bomb, and more particularly to such a bomb adapted for antipersonnel use,

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved bomb having incorporated therein a relatively large number of small caliber bullets, adapted to be fired radially durin the descent of the bomb, in such manner as to cover a relatively wide area in the manner equivalent to sustained machine gun fire.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of such a bomb provided with means whereby the same may be readily assembled.

- A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved mechanism for firing the bullets contained in the casing during the descent of the bomb.

A further and more specific object of the invention is the provision in such a bomb of an explosive charge, adapted to destroy the casing upon impact, after all the bullets contained therein have been fired, and also to provide an explosive eflect in the area struck, to further increase the devastating effect of the device.

Still another object is the provision of such a bomb which will have a highly increased destructive eifect, which will be reliable and eflicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to load and assemble, and which will be relatively safe to handle in normal operations, until such time as the firing mechanism is actuated by the bombardier.

Other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form of bomb embodying thi invention, taken substantially along the center line thereof.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the bomb shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the device.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a constructional detail.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawmgs.

Having reference now to the drawings, there is generally indicated at II) a bomb body, comprised of two longitudinally separable halves II, adapted a external threads 3| to be secured together as by means of any suitable fastener I2, The body is made separable for ease and facility in loading a plurality of bullets I4 into a relatively large number of apertures I5,

; disposed in aligned horizontal and vertical rows extending completely about the bomb peripherally and substantially the full length of the body. The recesses I5 are inclined downwardly at a suitable angle, as for example, 30 to 45 degrees, in order that the bullets contained therein when fired in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter, will cover a relatively wide area.

The lower'portion of the bomb body I0 is threaded as at I6, and adapted to engage the threaded portion I! of a nose cap I8, containing a charge of explosive I9 as, for example, trinitrotoluene or the like, and is provided with a fuse 20 which may be either of the time or impact variety.

The head I8 is provided with a recess 2 I, within which are adapted to be positioned a plurality of electrical batteries plate 23 separating the charge I9.

The upper portion of the battery compartment 2| is closed by a plate 25, having a suitable centrally disposed aperture therein, through which passes the extremity of a threaded rod 26, journaled for rotation as in a bearing 21. The rod 26 terminates in a flange 28 below the plate 25, and is secured in position as by a bushing or collar 29.

I The upper portion of the body I!) is provided with internal threads 30, adapted to engage the of an end cap 32. End cap 32 is provided with a centrally disposed aperture, through which the opposite end. of the rod 26 extends, being journaled in suitable bearings 33. A housing 34 is mounted exteriorly of the cap 32, and secured thereto as by bolts or screws 35, and contains a suitable electric motor 36 of any desired type, mounted on the extremity of the shaft 26, in such manner as to rotate the same when energized, as by means of any suitable time mechanism 31'. Suitable wiring is provided connecting the batteries 22 with the motor 36 (not shown).

Tail fins 38 of conventional design are secured to a suitable shaft 3'! extending upwardly from the housing 34,

A plate 40 is positioned within the bomb body I0, and is provided with a centrally disposed threaded bore 4| adapted to engage the threaded rod 26. As best shown in Figure 4, the plate 48 is provided with a plurality of radial grooves 42,

22, seated on a suitable recess from the explosive From 'the fof ing the operation of the device should now be readily understandable. the bomb has dropped and a desired time by means Afterhas assumed vertical position in falling, the motor 36 is energized at of the time switch 31 to eifect rotation of the shaftZBI 'As th"shaft" 2B is rotated, the plate 40, whichaothe startwf the fall is positioned at the top of the body in does not rotate with the shaft 26, du te the engagement of the points 45 of the gears 43 in apertures 41 Obviously," rotation'of=-'tl'ie"roci 26 thus paiises 'theplate 40 'ahdits ssociated rowei's" 43*t'b r'nbve downwardly within body i 0 and as the points-45engagezsuc'cessive*liorizoritairows of apertures 41 they I correspondingly penetrate the 'firi-ng caps of the"cartridgef to explode the same? When the last of' =the "cartridgs' "have been-firdgandtlie speed of rotation-oftheshait 26* may b"e-- suitably adjusted" to fire a the ear trid'gesin any desired 1er1gth-'-of'- time; the bomb strike's 'tlie "ground and the charge of expldsiv" I9 is detonated by 'the fuse '2 07 completely-' 'de' stroying -th e device and adding: to "the" gerfial des'tructiveness thereof;

Obviously, if desired the" xp'lo'siih 'cliai'rge a3?" be -omitted; 'and the casin'g or" body I fl 'su'speii'ded from' the lower -por'ti'on'ofthe body of an aircraiti' and" "utilized" as' amachine '"gimr suitable conned tions being provided with the pilot in order that the motor could be-energized avth will of t'he pilot" or' bombardier; to fire a: givennumber of tlie'horizontalrbwspf biillets'as 'desired; for use againstperson-neh other aircraft robot bo'hibs or other suitable targets. 7 7

It" will 'be readily? understood that the boifibs could :'bedropped in any" suitable "quantity arid in" any suitable ,pattern, td-completely cover 'a" selected area' w'itliafield of'fire;

' the foregoing it will nowbe"-'se'eh' 'that' there i her'e'in'" 15rdvidledadvice accmpl-isliirig a11- the obje'cts of this invention; including combination, a casing comprising two longitudinally separable halves having a plurality of horizontally and vertically aligned rows Of apertures therein, cartridges positioned in said apertures, and means in said casing for firing said cartridges, said means including a vertically movable plate and a plurality of spur gears radially disposed about the periphery of said plate, the points ofsaid gears being adapted to successively efi'eage'ahe nrmg caps of fcar'tri'dges vertical rwstdprevent rotation of said plate; and means forpositively moving said plate longitudinally in said casing.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a casing having a plurality of horizofitally"'and' vertically aligned rows of apertures therein; cartridges positioned in said apertures, and means in said casing for firing said carwages said means including a vertically movable plate and a plurality of spur gears radially disposed about "the periphery of said plate; the points "of said: gears being adapted to" 'suco'e's sively engage the firing caps of caitridges'in've1"-' tical rows; and' -a=*thre'adedroderr-gaging. a threaded borefin "said plate whereby rotation of said rod Y moves said I plate lin'ea'rly' while" theen gagemeirt ofthe "spur gearsin the vertically aligned rows of-"apertures Y prevents" rotation of said platefn v i e 3. In a device of the character'describedr'in combinatiom -a'casin'g having aplurality-of horizonta'llyand vertically aligned rows of apertures therein -'c'a-rtridges" 'positioned' in said apertures;-

ineanst in said casing for firing s'ai'd' cartridges? sai'd meanv including a vertically mov ableplate' and a" pluraiity of: spur g ears radially disposed about the periphery of said platep the points of said gears beingr adapted to successivelin eirgag'ettl'ie 'firingi caps.- of -'c'a'rtridge's' in vertical -rows;a threaded rod'engag-ing'a threaded bore-*in-saidt'plate 1 whereby rotation 0f said rodmoves said' plate-linearly; and an" electric motor for rotating 's'aid 'rod while the engagement-of the spur gears in 'ithevertically aligned rows ofape-rture'sprevents rotation5' of i said plate.

1 LGU-IS'CARB SGNNENSCHEIN;

REFERENCES; CITED 

